Chapter 8

Impulse and Momentum

Momentum and Collisions
 This chapter is concerned with inertia
and motion. Momentum helps us
understand collisions.

 Elastic Collisions - objects rebound

 Inelastic Collisions - object stick

together an usually become distorted
and generate heat
Momentum
 Momentum = mass  velocity

 p = mv

 Momentum is a vector quantity.

Large Momentum Examples
 Huge ship moving at a small velocity

P = Mv
 High velocity bullet

P = mv
Momentum Examples
 A large truck has more momentum
than a car moving at the same speed
because it has a greater mass.

 Which is more difficult to slow

down? The car or the large truck?
Impulse
 Newton’s Second Law can read
F = ma
= m(v/t)
= (mv)/(t)
= (p/ t)

Rearranging,
Impulse = p = Ft
When Force is Limited
 Apply a force for a long time.

 Examples:
 Follow through on a golf swing.
 Pushing a car.

Ft
Make it Bounce

p = p2 - p1 = -p1 - p1
= -2p1
p1

p2 = -p1
Minimize the Force

Increase t
 Catching a ball
 Bungee jumping

F t
Maximize Momentum Change

Apply a force for a short time.

 Examples:
 Boxing
 Karate

Ft
Conservation of Momentum

 This means that the momentum

doesn’t change.
 Recall that F t = mv), so F = 0
 In this equation, F is the "external
force."
 Internal forces cannot cause a
change in momentum.
 Examples

 Example 1: a bullet fired from a

rifle
 Example 2: a rocket in space
Collisions

Before
 
u1 u2

m1 m2

After  
v1 v2

m1 m2
   
m1u1  m 2 u 2  m1v1  m 2 v 2
v = 10 v=0
M M Before Collision
p = Mv

v’ = 5
M M After Collision
p = 2Mv’
Mv = 2Mv’
v’ = ½ v
Conserve Energy and Momentum

Before Collision

Case 1: Equal masses

Case 2: M>M
Case 3: M<M
Coefficient of Restitution

v 2  v1
e
u 2  u1

 For perfectly elastic collisions e = 1.

 If the two object stick together, e = 0.
 Otherwise 0 < e < 1.
Center of Mass

 x i mi
x cm 
 mi
On to problems...